If this is she of whom the world has heard,
Wonder no more at any happy change.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The challenge of evolutionary crisis is crucial

The
Mother & Sri Aurobindo are recognized the world over as enunciators of a
distinct system of Yoga and philosophy. They were pioneers of New-Age outlook
and have produced substantial literature apart from founding the Ashram through
which countless people have been inspired. Besides, a futuristic aesthetic
ecosystem of music, art, & poetry has also taken shape as part of their
spirituality. All this, however, remains confined to a very small circle of
devotees and admirers. Attempts to spread their messages by establishing
educational institutions have met with limited success so far.

India
today is suffering from the burden of the past and The Mother & Sri
Aurobindo advise unlearning. Religions are responsible for a lot of dumbing
down among people and, therefore, The Mother & Sri Aurobindo have exhorted
emancipation. As indolence and superstition give rise to ignorance and
insolence, they prescribe a system of Yoga that is focused on reading their
words and ruminating over them. Collective meditation and group discussion,
wherever possible, is also encouraged. The overall emphasis is on the
individual leading an ethical life while dedicating his day-to-day work to the
all-pervading Divinity.

The most important aspect of the teaching of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo is
evolution. Since they foresee that the present type of human beings will be
replaced by a higher level species, they hasten to prepare us for the same.
That, of course, may be a distant possibility but the onus, they remind, is on
the number of aspiring individuals to act as catalysts. Many people find fault with
the political system or the economy but The Mother & Sri Aurobindo
unequivocally characterize it as an evolutionary crisis for which their
Integral Yoga is the only enduring solution. This crucial insight, regrettably,
has not been duly noticed by the elite in India, however. [TNM55]